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Use of Monoclonal Antibodies to Visualize Capsular Material of Bacterial Pathogens by Conventional Electron Microscopy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2003

Mario Jacques
Affiliation:
Groupe de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses du Porc, and Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, C.P. 5000, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada J2S 7C6
Marcelo Gottschalk
Affiliation:
Groupe de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses du Porc, and Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, C.P. 5000, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada J2S 7C6
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Abstract

Abstract: Because of their chemical properties, bacterial capsules tend to collapse during dehydration before electron microscopy. The purpose of this study is thus to evaluate the use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against capsular material to stabilize and visualize bacterial capsule. Two important porcine pathogens with a known ultrastructure, namely, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Streptococcus suis, were used. Our data indicate that mAbs, either immunoglobulin G (IgG) or IgM, preferably from ascite fluids, can be used to stabilize bacterial capsular material in preparation for electron microscopy. However, because of their low antibody titer, the use of mAbs from culture supernatants is not recommended.

Type
Brief Report
Copyright
2001 Cambridge University Press

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